Author: Angie Sykeny

NH Historical Society holds scavenger hunt

Discover New Hampshire’s hidden treasures, stories and landmarks during the New Hampshire Historical Society’s 603 History Hunt. Elizabeth Dubrulle, Director of Education and Public Programs, talked about the inspiration, challenges and prizes of this unique statewide scavenger hunt, which begins on July 1.

What inspired the 603 History Hunt?

When we were brainstorming ideas for our 200th anniversary, we planned an extra-special year across the board. We wanted to do a lot of things focused on our regular audience and our members, but we also wanted to do something more broad, for the general public and people who don’t normally visit us or come to our programs. We came up with this idea. We thought it would be a fun, lighthearted way to get people out and about in the summer to explore and appreciate New Hampshire … and to find out great things about New Hampshire that they probably didn’t know before.

What are some of the challenges that participants can expect to do during the hunt?

There are tons of different kinds of challenges. Most are pretty accessible to everyone, but we made a few of them pretty hard to [cater to] the whole range of experience people [have] with New Hampshire. There’ll be things like visiting the longest candy counter in the world … and visiting historic markers, statues and interesting tourist attractions … like the original engine on the cog railroad. There’s finding grave sites for famous people, like the author Willa Cather and Franklin Pierce. There’s visiting things like the Walldog murals in Keene and other kinds of hidden gems, like the Mercy Train in Manchester.

What experiences are you aiming for participants to have through these challenges?

We’re trying to get people to recognize how extraordinary New Hampshire is, and to just get a look at the world around them. … New Hampshire has had a really outsized impact on American history. A lot of famous people have come here or were born here. Things have been invented here. There have been a lot of firsts here. … We’re all so busy and doing so many things so many times. Sometimes we forget that we live in this great state with all these wonderful things to see.

How does the scoring system work?

It’s all run through a free app called Scavify. You download the app onto your phone and join the 603 History Hunt. On July 1, the challenges will be uploaded. As you complete each challenge, you either upload a photo or scan a QR code, whatever the challenge requires, and get points. The app automatically keeps track of your points. You can check the leaderboard at any time and see how you’re doing compared to other people. Each person plays as an individual; there’s no team function, but we encourage people to play as a family and go out and do it together. Everybody can have their own account, or you can have one account for your whole family.

What are the prizes?

We have some participation prizes, like if you complete five challenges you get a 603 History Hunt mug. If you complete 25 challenges, you get a 603 History Hunt baseball hat. Those can be picked up here at the New Hampshire Historical Society. We’re also having a free ice cream social on Aug. 5 for all the participants where people can pick up their participation prizes. There are also five competitive prizes. We’re still [confirming] some of the prizes … but the ones we have locked in are two passports for the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, which gets you free admission into more than 20 museums around the state; … two tickets for the cog railroad; … and two tickets for Canobie Lake Park. We thought we’d keep in the spirit of things and give prizes that get people out and doing things. All of the competitive prizes also come with a free one-year membership for the New Hampshire Historical Society, which gets you free admission to the museum, archives and library, discounted admission to our workshops and special tours and free admission to all of our Saturday programs … which are lectures and collection highlight talks and stuff like that.

Featured photo: Caleb Smith. Courtesy photo.

On leaving high school with an associate degree

Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies, a chartered public high school located at Manchester Community College, recently celebrated its inaugural graduating class of nine students, who obtained both their high school diplomas and associate degrees simultaneously. One of these graduates, Caleb Smith of Manchester, shared his experiences at Spark and discussed the promising career opportunities that await him and his peers.

Tell us about your journey toward choosing Spark Academy and what led you to pursue this alternative high school experience.

When I was in eighth grade … I saw an ad for Spark Academy at a Fisher Cats game. The ad mentioned new opportunities for students, so I attended an info night with my mother. We both loved what we saw. I was immediately interested when they said they could graduate students with an associate’s degree right out of high school.

What was the curriculum like?

Basically, instead of taking traditional high school classes, we took college classes as dual enrollment — for both college and high school credits. … During the first two years, we were strictly at Spark Academy and took college classes that the Spark teachers were trained to teach, like basic CAD, robotic design and electrical fundamentals. In the third year, we gained full access to the college and could choose our own classes. Some professors knew we were high school students, and some didn’t. … This also allowed for accelerated learning based on [each student’s] capabilities. For example, I took Calculus I for my math credit, while some of my classmates went up to Calculus IV or Differential Equations. … Some of the classes were challenging, but as long as I dedicated enough time to them, they were manageable.

What degrees and certificates did you graduate with?

I earned an associate’s degree in advanced manufacturing. I also got a certificate in mechatronics. Not many people know what that is; it’s an electronic and mechanical system that’s used to automate an entire process. It’s very important in today’s industry and manufacturing world, and a lot of companies value that degree or certificate. Over the summer, I’m also going to be finishing up my certificate in robotics, which covers operating, programming and building robots to automate tasks.

What career opportunities has this path opened for you right out of high school?

It opens up opportunities in the field of manufacturing. … As part of the Spark program, we took a class called Systems One, which acted as our senior project. We could choose between doing a comprehensive project or securing an internship. I got an internship at Summit Packaging Systems, and that has provided valuable job pathways and networking opportunities. I’m working there now in inspection but will soon move to the machine shop. I learned to use CNC machines, problem-solving skills and various technologies relevant to my current work while I was at Spark. There are all kinds of [workplaces] around here that are looking for these kinds of skills. Some of my classmates with the same degree are working as mechanical engineers at DEKA or operating machinery at General Electric.

Are you content with your high school experience, even though you may have missed out on certain traditional elements?

It’s true that with such a small class and a class that was predominantly male, we couldn’t really have a prom or dances and stuff. But one of the extracurriculars they offered was the chance to compete in VEX Robotics on a robotics team, and this year we made it to the World Championship and got to go to Dallas for that, and that was really cool. … Honestly, I’m extremely happy to be in the position I’m in right now. It’s been great being one of the first graduates of the founding class.

What guidance or advice would you offer to future classes or students who are considering attending Spark Academy?

If you’re on the edge and not sure if you want to go or not, definitely take the leap. Worse comes to worst, you don’t like it, and you can back out and go to a different school. And, if you don’t like the Advanced Manufacturing pathway after the second year, you can choose a different path for yourself that will still be giving you early access to college [curriculum and credits]

Featured photo: Caleb Smith. Courtesy photo.

Upcycling project earns a Girl Scout Gold Award

Anya Merriman-Mix of Amherst, a Girl Scout and high school senior at The Dublin School, recently earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, investing more than 93 hours and more than $500 in funding in organizing sustainable fashion workshops. Merriman-Mix talked about her initiative to raise awareness about the harmful effects of fast fashion and promote upcycling as a viable solution.

What inspired you to raise awareness about the impact of fast fashion and promote upcycling?

During Covid, when I was stuck in my house and trying to find things to do, I saw a bunch of people making their own tops, by crocheting them or using recycled materials. … I started doing some research around it … and into fast fashion and the impact that it has on other countries. … The fashion industry no longer operates around just four seasons; it puts out new styles every few weeks. This results in a huge influx of clothes that stay in stores for a short period, then get sent back to the countries they came from if they’re not sold. I found all this really interesting. I regularly go through my closet and donate or give away anything I don’t want, and I discovered that many donations given to places like Goodwill aren’t always bought, and a lot of it is unusable. If something gets donated and sits there for a long time, it also gets sent back [to other countries]. There’s an overflow of clothes and fabrics that aren’t needed and can’t be reused and end up in landfills. I wanted to raise awareness and make people more conscious of their clothing-buying decisions … and I noticed that many people have no idea what upcycling is when I bring it up.

How did this translate into a project for Girl Scouts, and what did that project consist of?

I decided to propose an upcycling course for my school during what’s called “J-term,” which is a two-week period in January when my school offers various courses. A couple of teachers expressed interest, and we worked together to create the course. That’s when I decided to turn it into my Gold Award project [for Girl Scouts]. … I also ran a workshop for Brownies where they made their own tote bags and dreamcatchers. What’s interesting is [the Brownies] actually took the extra fabric from their dreamcatchers and started making bracelets out of it … they took it upon themselves, which was really great to see. I’m going to teach another upcycling course at a Girl Scout summer camp this year. I also created a website, and I’ve connected with a woman in Milford who does upcycling through her company called Mountain Girl.

How can individuals who are not creatively inclined toward upcycling dispose of their unwanted clothing and fabrics responsibly?

If you can’t find someone to give them to directly, donating clothes is always a better option than throwing them away. There are higher-end thrift stores like Mother and Child that accept good quality clothes. Companies like Lululemon and Patagonia also have buyback programs where you can return old clothes for them to resell.

How has this project changed the way you think about and manage clothes in your own life?

I try not to buy clothes unless I need something specific for an event or it’s something that I truly love and know for sure that I’ll wear again. I look for higher-end brands that are moderately affordable, because they usually offer better quality.

What skills aside from upcycling have you developed through this project?

Public speaking and advocacy were significant skills I developed. I had to communicate and convince different people about my project and learn to adapt my message for different audiences, such as teachers, Girl Scouts council members and Brownies.

What advice do you have for other Girl Scouts who are working toward earning the Gold Award?

If you have an interest, start researching and brainstorming ideas. I had been passionate about upcycling for a few years, but I didn’t have much preparation or knowledge at the beginning [of the project], so I learned things as I went along. … Not everything goes smoothly all the time, but it’s definitely worth a shot. I know I’m really glad I took on this project.

Featured photo: Anya Merriman-Mix. Courtesy photo.

Jill Piscitello discusses her new novel, A Sour Note

Author Jill Piscitello talks about her new mystery novel set in Hampton Beach, A Sour Note.

What is A Sour Note about?

A Sour Note features Maeve Cleary, an unemployed event coordinator, coming to terms with the public end to her engagement with a famous morning news host. Thanks to a social media darling’s corpse turning up behind her mother’s music school, Maeve’s plan to recover in the privacy of her childhood home is upended. As suspicion surrounds her and a few friends, media interest peaks again. While following a trail of clues, she fends off help from a clairvoyant cousin, butts heads with a no-nonsense detective and toys with the idea of allowing a bit of romance back into her life.

What inspired you to set this story in Hampton Beach?

My family has visited Hampton for decades. The Natural Resources Defense Council included Hampton Beach on its list of safest and cleanest beaches in the country several times, and the April 2023 issue of Country Living named it one of the eight “classic beach boardwalks.” … I was walking along a stretch of ocean when the idea for A Sour Note first arose. What better place for a mystery than a beach setting offering more than a scenic view? Sure, the beach is beautiful. However, it’s the people, food and entertainment that create a buzzing hive of activity to fill pages with.

How did you incorporate the unique atmosphere of Hampton Beach into the story? How did you strike a balance between the light, summery setting and the tension and suspense required for a mystery?

Hampton Beach is unique because it offers something for everyone. Arcades and a stretch of playground entertain children for hours, adults have endless choices for food, and live music plays every night. The sun, sand and sights set a carefree background in stark contrast to Maeve’s dangerous search for a murderer.

How did you blend the book’s magical elements with the grounded reality of the murder investigation?

A large percentage of people believe in some aspect of psychic ability. Many claim to experience premonition or déjà vu. Maeve wavers between skepticism of her cousin Calista’s clairvoyance and entertaining the idea she might have a gift. Though I enjoy reading paranormal cozies, I wanted a story that people could relate to. Doesn’t everyone know someone who claims to ‘have a feeling?’

What motivated you to venture into the mystery genre? How did you approach writing a mystery compared to your previous works?

My previous books fell within the sweet holiday romance genre. I love watching couples find their way to happily ever after and am a huge fan of the Hallmark Channel. … I plan to revisit the romance genre as an author, but in my heart, I’ve always wanted to write mysteries. I’m not sure who is more responsible for this aspiration — my mother for introducing me at 12 years old to Mary Higgins Clark, or the author herself for sucking me into each and every word of the books that kept me reading late into the night. Writing the first draft required a significant amount of planning and research. In romance novels, shifting back and forth between the two main characters is easier than balancing a larger cast of voices demanding to tell their own stories.

What do you hope readers will take away from A Sour Note in terms of entertainment and emotional resonance?

I’m hoping readers enjoy an intriguing tale filled with unexpected twists, friendship, strength, love and likable characters they look forward to revisiting time after time.

Can you give us a glimpse into what readers can expect in the next two books of the series?

The second book will be set during the fall after most of the tourist crowd has left for the season. Calista will have a much larger role in the story. The third mystery is still in the outlining stage, but we will see Maeve’s mother pursuing a romantic relationship while her daughter solves another case.

Featured photo: Jill Piscitello. Courtesy photo.

Filmmaker takes her movie on the road

New Hampshire filmmaker Laina Barakat is taking her award-winning feature film Light Attaching to a Girl on a New England screening tour. She discussed the inspiration behind the film, her unique filmmaking style and what audiences can look forward to at the screenings.

Tell us about the film.

It’s called Light Attaching to a Girl. It’s just over an hour. It’s a narrative drama set in Iceland and Keene, New Hampshire. It’s about an 18-year-old girl traveling alone for the first time, processing childhood trauma, and experiencing independence in an unknown country. … A lot of people are really excited about the score; we had a really beautiful orchestra that played on it. They did the music for Parasite and Squid Game and a bunch of other really phenomenal, much larger works.

What inspired it?

The film actually stars my sister. She’s a non-actor; she’s never been on camera before, but I knew she had talent. She wanted to go to Iceland, and I convinced her to let me bring a film crew. We filmed the trip in a documentary style and later wrote a narrative to complement it. We blended the two in New Hampshire.

What’s your background in filmmaking?

I’ve been a filmmaker for about 18 years. I started with Either/Or Films, a film company in New Hampshire. I continued producing, and about six years ago I started my own film company called Wayward Ark Productions so that I could start directing. I’ve directed seven short films. I have some feature-length films as a producer under my belt, but this is my first as a writer-director.

The film blends documentary elements with narrative structure. How did you accomplish that?

My shooting style is very under-the-radar, with a very small crew. When it comes to lighting, I like to work with documentary-style filmmakers, so that I don’t have big lighting packages. … With the narrative piece, I used a lot of local actors and non-actors. We used local locations to pick up bits of naturalism and things that are already there, so we get a sense of truth and reality in what we’re making.

What is it like working with non-actors?

I love to work with non-actors. It’s what I do most of the time, actually. When you live in a rural area like this and you don’t have a lot of talented actors around you, I’d rather work with non-actors than poorly trained ones. I get a sense of realism by putting it into the writing. For my sister, there are bits of my own story and other bits of her story in it. For the rest of the actors in the film, I took pieces from their normal lives. It’s not autobiographical at all, but the more of their personal stories that I can put into the narrative, the easier it is for them to seamlessly act.

The film tour also features women-directed short films. Why is it important to you to highlight other female filmmakers?

It’s super important for women in any industry, especially in the film industry, to hype each other and to support each other. … We are a real minority, not only in paid positions but also in awards and representation in film festivals. For me, when I made the film, it was really important that most of my cast and crew were women.

What does it mean for you to be present at the screenings, do Q&A sessions and engage with your audience?

It makes it a more enriching and meaningful experience. For me as a filmmaker, it’s really great to hear interpretations of my work that maybe weren’t my own, but are valid and important. …I love any opportunity to hear how something hits someone else and why.

Tickets cost $15 for general admission and $12 for seniors, students and children. Visit waywardarkproductions.com.

Light Attaching to a Girl screenings
Friday, June 2, 6:30 p.m. at Studio Lab, 11 A St., Derry
Saturday, June 10, 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton
Saturday, June 10, 7 p.m. at Scriven Arts Center, 452 Route 140, Gilmanton
Sunday, June 11, 6:30 p.m. at The Park Theatre, 19 Main St., Jaffrey

Featured photo: Laina Barakat. Courtesy photo.

A discussion with NHTI’s new president

Dr. Patrick Tompkins, the President of NHTI since February, shared his thoughts on the role of community colleges, the challenges of declining enrollment, strategies to ensure high-quality education at an affordable cost and more.

Tell us about yourself and what drew you to NHTI.

I’ve been working in higher education for several decades … in Iowa, Oklahoma, Virginia and now New Hampshire. I was an English professor for a long time, and then … moved into administration. I was a dean and a provost at a college, then went to Eastern Shore Community College and served as vice president of academics, students and workforce education. I came to NHTI primarily because of the quality of the college and what it has to offer. We have really solid programs in things like health care … and we have some really unique programs, like mindfulness, hospitality, sports management and addiction counseling. … I also really wanted to work at a community college that has an athletics program, because I believe it provides academic opportunity for some students who might not otherwise [attend college].

What do you believe is the role of community college?

I call community college the greatest democratization in the history of higher education. It makes post-secondary education accessible to all. It’s affordable. It’s convenient. There’s a community college within driving distance of everybody in the continental United States. It allows people who may not think they’re right for higher education or who would otherwise not be able to get into higher education to get an education in a wide variety of fields.

How will you work to ensure an education at NHTI is both affordable and high quality?

The state legislature has allowed the community college system to keep tuition only $5 ahead of where it was in 2011. … Even though the tuition [cost] has stayed constant, there is still a gap that is hard for students to fill. That’s where I have to expand our scholarships. … When we’re able to provide scholarships to cover ancillary things, such as books or supplies, that helps to close that gap. … Most folks know we’re inexpensive; we’re less than half the cost of any other college in New Hampshire … but that means nothing if we don’t have quality. … Our quality comes from having superior faculty whose only mission is to teach. … We have programs that can be completed in a short term … and with flexible scheduling … that lead to really good jobs. … We have a campus with wonderful amenities and extracurricular activities. … These are all things that are of value to our students.

What do extracurricular activities, athletics and campus life contribute to the educational experience at NHTI?

We serve the entire student. It’s not just about academics; it’s also about helping them develop as good family members, community members and workers, and to live healthy lives, mentally and physically. … Having the dorms and a mix of student clubs and activities makes for a really rich campus life. Many community colleges don’t have athletics, so I’m really happy that we do. … For some students, athletics may be the thing that draws them in, and once they’re here they start to realize that sports is not going to pay their way and that they’re going to need [job] skills. … Not all students will go pro in their sport, but they are still passionate about it, and being able to play at the college level is an exciting thing for them.

Enrollment in community colleges has been declining. How do you plan to address that at NHTI?

Declining enrollment is a national trend that’s been going on since 2014. The two primary factors are, there have been fewer people graduating high school … and the people who want to work have found work and aren’t in immediate need of training. It’s looking like we’re nearing [the end] of declining enrollment, and that those factors — particularly the second one — are going to change. There are going to be more opportunities for people to change career fields or advance in the field they’re in and [therefore] come back to college. … But should growing enrollment always be the goal? I think the better question to ask is, how well is a community college serving its community? Because enrollment [reflects whether] we are offering the right mix of programs that are relevant to [employment] opportunities for residents in the area. … So our focus is on our programs and looking at where there are new opportunities or opportunities to grow.

What do you find most fulfilling about this position?

It helps me live out a very foundational ethic that was bred in me as a young person, which is my commitment to service for others into the community. … I feel fortunate to have a job where it’s not about me. People in our business sometimes say, ‘Your success is our success.’ I don’t view it that way. I view it as your success is your success; I was just lucky enough to be there as you were achieving it.

Featured photo: Dr. Patrick Tompkins. Courtesy photo.